Page 40 of Wild and Unruly
“How long are you home?”
Jax’s expression shutters, and I suddenly wish I was anywhere else. This feels like a private conversation I shouldn’t be privy to. “A while. My injuries are…extensive enough.”
“Damn, I’m sorry, man.” Stetson slaps him on the shoulder, and I watch Jax smile fondly at his little brother and I can tell that he’s wondering how his baby brother is, well, not a baby anymore.
“It’s all good. Now I get to witness Mom baby you all over again.”
Stetson chuckles sarcastically. “Ha-ha. You are hilarious.”
“Aw, come on, it’s not your fault you’re the baby.”
“Okay.” Stetson turns to me and holds out a hand. “You ready to go?”
I smile at Jax, then nod to Stetson. “Yeah, I should head out.”
Jax reaches out and takes my hand in his, lifting it to his mouth and pressing a kiss to it. I hear the sigh that escapes Stetson’s mouth, and I smile at his charming older brother. He winks. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”
“You too.” I chuckle as I’m led out of the bar, Stetson making his way through with nods and smiles goodbye to some of the local townsfolk.
The fresh air outside gives me relief from the humidity that gathered in the bar, and I gulp it in, letting the breeze cool me down as we walk to my truck.
Stetson’s hand squeezes mine. “Did you have a good week?”
I glance at him, taking in the curious gaze and soft smile on his face. “It was fine.”
A disbelieving snort leaves him, and he flexes his hand wrapped around mine again. “That was believable.”
I shrug, letting our stride slow as we walk down the main road. “It is what it is.”
Stetson pulls me back, holding me hostage on the sidewalk, and I turn to face him. “Tell me what happened.”
I eye the man speculatively. “Are we even at this stage yet?”
He tilts his chin down, and I grumble at the fact that I have to look up at him to see his eyes. Why does he have to be so damn tall? It was hot and distracting.
“I think we can be at whatever stage we want. There are no rules.”
“No rules?” I let him pull me closer, and I shake my head, my heart racing in my chest. “I’ve never not had rules when it comes to dating.”
“We don’t need rules, Bo.” His calloused hand wraps around the back of my neck, resting comfortably there, and I feel my limbs slowly melt into him. “We can do whatever we want.”
I close my eyes and let out a deep sigh, allowing myself for a moment to just be there and not worry about anything. I’ve never felt like I could do this with anyone before. I’m completely putting my trust and faith into Stetson.
That was a terrifying thought.
Lips touch mine gently, so soft I almost think I imagined it, and I blink open my eyes. “Tell me what happened.” The whispered words bring me back to reality.
I eye his light-brown hair that was free from a hat tonight and let my hand reach up into the strands for a moment. Finally, I say, “It’s not anything new.” Shaking my head, I take a step back, and he releases all but my hand, walking beside me again. “My brother has had mood swings since his accident. Well, no.” I frown in thought. “They’re not really mood swings, more like he stays high on the grumpy side of things all the time. I can’t blame him, but sometimes he takes it out on the people around him. Like my mom, his boss, or coworkers. Me, when I’m around.”
Stetson stays quiet, and I continue. “I have to believe that someday will be better, that something good will come for him. But I think and fear that he doesn’t feel the same way. That he’s just given up hope.”
“You offered to bring him to the ranch?”
I sigh at the question, thinking of that conversation. “He won’t come. He wants nothing to do with horses. Blames them on what happened to him.”
“I suppose he’s not wrong.”
I open my mouth to say the opposite. That he is wrong. That the Smiths are the ones in the wrong, that they messed with my brother’s horse, and that’s why he freaked. But…that would open up a conversation I wasn’t ready to have yet. I need more proof. I need more time to gather said proof.
